Finger operable padlock



Dec. 8,1931. G MlLLER 1,835,317

FINGER OPERABLE PADLOCK Filed Jan."1'7, 1931 g I am Patented Dec. 8, 1931 UNITED STATES FATE QFFICEIg,

enonen M. MILLER, or LANCASTER, PENNSYTQVANIA. ASSIGNOR, 'ro sLaYMAKEa Loci: COMPANY, or LaNcasTER, PENNSYLVANIA, A'ooRPonA'rIoN orrEN sYLvAN1A OPERAIBLE ranrocx a lication filed January 17', 1931. Serial No. 5,o9,4sa

This invention relates tolock devices, more especially of the padlock type and is intended to provide a novel lock of simple construction "adapted to be; operated by the thumb or other finger ofthe hand by which it is graspedfor appliance.

Someof the various forms of padlocks for general or special use may as an incident of construction be susceptibleof operation by one hand or even by a finger of the hand'in which grasped, but few if any have been designed for that purpose and the manipulation to its accomplishment would necessarily "The invention will be best understood by further description with reference to the appended drawings which illustrate one practicableembodiment thereof in the form of a simple padlock. i

Insaid drawings;

Fig. 1 is a. sideelevationofthe lock showing the retractible shacklefpart and a key for unlocking' in their different "operative positions by full and-dotted line representations;

Fig. 2 is an end view of the lock;

Fig. 3 is an elevation similar to Fig. 1 with one side of the c asingremoved to reveal the inner parts and construction;

Fig.4 is an elevation of the removed side of the casing inverted;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken on theline 5-5 of Fig. 1 looking in the direction of the arrows; and

Fig. 6 illustrates side and end views respectively of an assembly part ofthe lock.

The casing ofthis lock is shown formed by opposingface or side plates 7 and8 fitted complementarily or overlappingly together by marginal flanges, closing the edges all around. The use of rivets or other connectthat of the other as represented,so-as to -se cure them firmly against separationor'pry v This casinghas-"a part 9 extending like a hook or crooked finger from one side toward the other-ofitsmain'body with-a shaping of the latter to provide'a liberal openingfrom the gap between. Said hook-like part formed in this instance by portions' 'of the two side plates maybe made solid if desired, as by" forming or casting integral with only one of the casing plates. .Although substantially rectangular cross-sectionally in this embodiment, it might obviously-be oval or circularinstead. For greater strength and simplicity however, it is preferred to form itas shown,

i. e., by interfitting portions of the'casing plates in: the same manneras the casings body itself. '1. T r

' The shackle or'locking element is provided by a bolt=10 retractibly slidable'within the casing across the gap between its main body and hook-like'parts. eOnefend ofthis bolt normally projects through the lower end of the casing withits other endjust extending through the upper endthereof in position for movementacross said gap. Theopenings therefor in the casing wallsiserve to guide'it without need 'forsupplemental guidement within the casing, added if desired. -A recess or opening in the extremity of thehoolelike part receives the end of the bolt as'it is moved across the gap to locking position. as indicated by dotted linesinFig.1.- r

The'operating parts within the casing are advantageously assembled on orin a bedplate 11' (see Fig. 6)- providing supplemental guidement for the bolt if so. desired; This plate is formed by a piece of metal stamped out to' fit inside the casing without need for other fastening and bent at places to provide the necessary holding means. Thus, an intermediate arching 11 thereof is made to re-. ceive a 'member (presently described) for locking the bolt and anup-bent arm 11 serves as anchor-post for a member (also presently described) to retract the bolt on release. Likewise, up-bent ear-portions 11 provide guidefor a key insertable into the casing, while punched-out studs 11? therealthough such may be 12 of hair-pinshape fitting in the arch 11* of the bed-plate with its ends straddling said bolt. A small lug 12 on this spring (see Fig. 3) extends into a hole 11 in the upper arch wall to prevent dislodgment. Its free ends snap into an annular groove or notch 10 in the bolt so as to lock the latter against movement in either direction when said groove is brought therebetween with shift of the bolt across the gap of the casing. Its releaseis effected by a key wedging the ends thereof apart by a turning therebetween.

The aforementioned member for retracting or retiring the bolt on release comprises a coiled spring 13 anchored tensionally on the arm 11 of the bed-plate with one end bearing against the casing wall and its other end fixed to the bolt as by passing'through a hole in the latter. This arrangement adapts the spring not only to draw the bolt rearward on release, but also to limit its movement in opposite directions and prevent its withdrawal from the casing as will be obvious.

A key 14: for releasing the lock is insertable through guide-disk 15 in the lower end of the casingwith its point receivable into a recess 11 in the aforesaid upper arch wall of the bed-plate so as to center it properly. The key guards 11 of course allow only the right key to be turned in the lock (as represented in Fig. 3), even if a false key is admitted through the guide-disk.

The described lock is applied and oper ated most simply. On grasping naturally in either hand, its hook-like part is engaged in the staple or other receivable element therefore as easily as the finger might be. The bolt is then shot by pushing with the thumb coming naturally under it. These two simple acts are so easily and quickly done as to be almost simultaneous. The lock is thereupon applied securely and no tool can be employed to retire the bolt or to pry open the lock without great difficulty. In cases of heavy hammer-proof build, either with or without structural modification of the casing and hook-like part, a prying apart would be almost impossible.

In unlocking, the key is easily inserted and turned by one hand without necessity of holding with the other, even if the lock hangs loose enough to swing on the staple, since the casing does not move or snap away from the hook-like part when release occurs as in the ordinary padlock and only the bolt has any movement. Thus, as distinguished from other padlocks, the locking element is movable to locked and unlocked positions without any relative movement of the casing.

The advantages of this novel lock will be apparent from both the manufacturing and utility standpoints. While the illustrated construction is probably the most simple and economic, it may obviously be made in various forms with numerous changes and modifications in arrangement and assembly of parts such as mentioned, so that it is not intended that the appended claims shall limit the invention to the specific form and construction shown by the drawings.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A padlock comprising a casing having a recess at one side providing spaced jaw portions, a bolt slidable in the casing and having one end projecting therebeyond to be moved by thumb'push across the space between said jaw portions to a position of locking with its opposite ends engaged in the l jaw portions, means automatically locking the bolt in such position when thrust thereto, and means retracting the bolt upon release of said locking means and serving also to limit the bolt movement in opposite directions.

2. A lock comprising a casing formed by opposing flanged plate-members complementarily fitted together by an overlapping of one on the other and having portions thereof spaced apart in an open jaw at one side, a bolt slidable in the casing across the mouth of said jaw and having an end projected for push movement by'the thumb of the hand holding the casing, means locking the bolt in position of extension across the jaw and means both retracting the bolt on release of said locking means and limiting the movement of said bolt in opposite directions.

3. A lock comprising a casing formed by opposing flanged plate-members fitted complementarily together by an overlapping of one on the other and having portions thereof spaced apart in an open jaw at one side, a bolt slidable in the casing across the mouth of said jaw and having an end projected for push movement by the thumb of the hand holding the casing, a spring-member for locking the bolt in extension across the jaw and means including another spring engaging the bolt for retracting it on release of the locking spring member and in addition limiting its movement in opposite directions and also preventing its withdrawal from the casing.

4:. A padlock comprising a casing formed by opposing flanged plate-members fitted. complementarily together and having a hook-like extension portion with extremity spaced apart from the body portion thereof,

a shackling member slidable across the intervening space into said extension portions extremity and having an end projected through the body part of the casing for push movement by the thumb to said position, means locking said member in the position of extension across said space, means retracting the member on release of said locking means, and means including aseparate plate Within the casing formed to hold said locking and said retracting means in place as also to guard the entrance of'a key for releasing the former.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

GEO. M. MILLER. 

